Improvement in harvesters



7' Sheets-Sheet 1'.

0. WHEELER, Jr.

Harvester.

No. 201,579. Patented March), 1878.

ATTOR N EY 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

0. WHEELER, Jr.

Harvester. No.'201,5. Patented March 19,1878.

WITNESSES -INVENTOR ATTOIRNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet 3. 0. WHEELER, Jr.Harvester. No. 201,579. Patented March 19, I878.

WITNESSES Q INVENTOR ATTORNEY 7 Sheets-Sheet; 4.

0. WHEELER, Jr. Harvester. No. 201,579. Patented March 19, I878 11';- iv1 v r i I,

l, IV I WIINESSES J a; i N EN OR M E I J i gaww ATTORNEY V";'Sheets-Sheet51 0. WHEELER; Jr.

- Harvester. No. 201,579. Patented March 19, 1878.

ATTORNEY 7 She ets-Sl 1eet. 6. 0. WHEELER, 'Jr. H a rv e s t er.

No. 201-,579. Patented March 19; 1878..

I ///IIIIIII/IIIII4V WITNESSES ATTORNEY INVENTOR V N, PETERS,PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHEE WASHINGTON D C.

7 Sheets-'Shet 7. 0. WHEELER, Jr.

Harvester. No. 201,579. Patented March 19, 1878..

ATTORN EY UNITED SrArEs PATENT OE IoE.-.

oYEENUs WHEELER, JR.,

OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

lM PROVEMENT l N HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNO- 201,579, dated March 19,1878; application filed V February 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OYEENUs WHEELER, J r'.,of Auburn, county of Cayuga, State of New York, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Combined Reaping and Mowing Machines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my improvedmachine adapted for use as a reaper. Fig. 1 represents an elevation ofthe adjustable grain-wheel. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the samefolded for transportation. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thesocket-piece for holding the divider-p0i11t when the platform is folded;alsoofthedivider-pointdetached. Fi'g. 4 is a side elevation of therake-cam, and of the devices connected therewith for controlling thepath of the rake-arms, and Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 6is a perspective view of the revolving rake-head or wheel inverted.Figs. 7 8, 9, and 9 represent detached parts, hereinafter described.Figs. 10 and 10* represent a perspective view of the machine when usedas amower; and Fig. 11 is a similar view, showing the mower folded fortransportation. Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal section through theinner shoe,with its adjustable runner. Fig. 13. is a verticallongitudinal section through the gear and seat frames, 86c. Figs. 14,15, 16, and 17 represent details hereinafter described. Fig. 18 is aperspective view of the hinge and pivot-piece connecting the cuttingapparatus with the main frame; and Figs. 19,20, and 21 are perspectiveviews, showing difierent adjustments of the cutting apparatus forchanging the angle of cut.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts wherever used.

The invention relates to a combination of parts or devices for mowinggrass and for harvesting grain, &c., and constitutes what is known anddistinguished by mowing and reaping machine builders as a combinedmachine; and while some of the devices are specially applicable to andare used only in,

The nature and object of the improvements may be briefly stated asfollows, viz: To produce a more convenient adjustment of the finger-barsfor varying the height of cut; a light, strong, and convenient devicefor making the hinge-connectionbetween the fingerbar and the frame ofthe machine; a simplification of the tilting and lifting levers andtheir locking mechanisms, and their peculiar arrangement, adapting themto be used both in reaping and in mowing; an arrangement of devices inconnection with the tilting-lever for automatically controlling the gagdog or lever when folding the cutting apparatus for transportation onthe road as a mower, and for holding said dog out of action in reaping;also, in

a metal seat-frame and tool-box of peculiar con.

struction, serving as a cover for the gear box or frame, and as asupport for the seat, and having devices connected with it for changingthe position of the seat and holding it in any desired position. l

The invention further relates to the provision of supports on thecrank-frame for holding and carrying the raking apparatus whentheplatform is folded for transportation; and to the means for securelysupporting the platform when folded at the side of the machine, all as Vhereinafter fully explained.

The machine in its general arrangement and organization of 1 parts issimilar to that described in Letters Patent granted to me July 13, 1875,No.165,460, and needs, therefore, to be described in detail only so faras is necessary to an understanding of my present improvements.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents the gear box or frame, withinwhich the driving and multiplying gears are located, as shown, under anyconvenient or desired arran gement, said box being provided withprojecting sleeves, in which the main drive-wheel axle rotates and hasits bearings. This frame is further provided at its inner side with asocket for the reception of a tongue, which is firmly bolted therein,making frame A the draft-frame of the machine. The frame A hasforwardly-projecting lugs at its sides, and to these the metalseat-frame and tool-box A is pivoted near its forward end, said framefoldin g. down upon and forming a cover to the gear box or frame A, asshown in Fig. 13.- This frame informresemblesthebodyof abuggy, the

rear portion, including the hinged cover a to the tool-box, beingraised, while in front of said raised part, and between said part andthe foot board or piece, the flooring is depressed, and within thisdepressed portion is an elevation, a nearly cylindrical in form, upon orwithin which is located atoothed disk, I), Fig. 14, to which the seatspring or standard is secured in the inclined position shown. This diskis held in place by a ring, 11 Fig. 15, overlapping its outer edge orteeth, and held down upon the cylindrical socket a byanyconvenientarrangement of bolts or screws. A spring-pawl engages withthe teeth of the disk b for holding it at any desired point ofadjustment, and, by withdrawing said pawl, the disk eanbe rotated forturning the stand- .ard from a position inclining to the rear in mowingto one inclining forward, moving the seat out of the way of the rakes inreaping, or to any intermediate position, as may be required, and inwhich it can be again locked and securely held by the spring-pawl. Theseat-frame A, thus provided with the tool-box, the socket for theseat-support and foot-board, and forming the cover to the gear box orframe,

as described, is formed or cast in one piece.

The seat applied to the upper end of the inclined standard is adapted tobe readily ad- 7 justed thereon to accommodate it to the adjustment ofthe seat-standard, as described.

The vibrating frame B, with which the cutting apparatus is connected, ashereinafter described, has sleeves on its forward end surrounding theaxle-sleeves on the gear box or frame A, and vibrates around the mainaxle as a center. This frame B has upon it a sleeve, .B, which inclosesand protects the crankshaft mounted therein, the forward end of saidsleeve moving in a slot in the rear wall of box A. Shown in Figs. 10 and11.)

The inner end of the sleeve a of box-frame A has a standard, a formedupon it, to the vertical side of which is pivoted a weighted dog, 0,which serves, when not thrown up out of the way, to limit the upwardthrow or vibration of the frame B when the machine is used as a mower. Arack-plate, 11*, attached to the inner arm b of the frame B, andconnecting said arm with the axle-sleeve, has a .curved lever plate orarm, D, pivoted to it at apoint below the axle, as shown in Figs. 19,20, 21, said arm curving around in front of .and above the axle, andhaving the lever D secured in a socket in its upper end. This arm D isprovided on its side adjacent to the weighted dog 0 with a horizontalarm or spur, d, which overhangs the upper arm of said dog, and serves,when the lever is thrown forward, to depress said end, and thereby torelease the frame B from the action of the dog, limitngits upwardmovement, and thus to permit .the further upward vibration of said framewhen required for transportation or other purpose.

- z E is a :hinge-piece, forming the connection between the shoe orcutting apparatus and the frame'B. This connecting-piece is showndetached in Fig. 18 as being in an irregular form, approximating atriangle, right angled at the junction of its forward and outer sides,with its forward side made concave on its upper face to receive atransverse shaft or pivot, f, connecting it with the forked rear end offrame-bar b as shown, and upon which pivot said connecting-piece isrocked or vibrated for changing the angle of presentation of thecutters'in a manner that will be readily understood.

The outer side of the piece E, lying in a plane about parallel with thepath of the machine, has two arms, 6 e, projecting obliquely downward,and to these arms the shoe F is pivoted through suitable lugs or ears f,formed thereon, as shown, and which, in the present instance, serve alsoas supports or points of attachment for the rake-stand, as hereinafterdescribed. The upper face of plate E on the side adjacent to the cuttingapparatus is grooved to receive a crankshaft, through which thegag-lever, hereinafter described, is operated, and which, when in place,is secured by a cap-plate or cover, E, bolted thereon.

The hinge-piece E, thus made in a single piece, serves both to pivot thefin ger-bar, which is bolted to the shoe in the usual manner, to themain frame, for allowing it to rock on its longitudinal axis, and alsoas the hinge-piece, to whiclrsaid bar is connected, for allowing it torise and fall at its outer end in following the surface of the ground.An arm, 0 is pivoted on the shaft f, and connected with the hinge-pieceE, as shown, and has its upper end connected by a rod or link, 0 withthe lever D or its arm D, in such manner that when the lever is vibratedit serves to rock the hinge-piece E on the pivot f, and with it thecutting apparatus, for raising or depressing the points of the cutters,as required.

Near the upper end of standard a is pivoted a beam or lever, G, the rearend of which overhangs the pivot f, and has an adjustable block, Gr,pivoted to it, as shown in Fig. 9. This block is composed, preferably,of two parallel plates, clasping the end of beam Gr between them, openat their forward upper end, to allow them to vibrate or be adjusted uponthe beam, and provided at their lower rear end with a hook, G with whichthe liftin g link or chain is connected, as shown. This block isprovided with a series of perforations near its upper curved edge, madekey-hole shaped and a key, g, Fig. 9, passed through one of saidperforations and under the bar, as shown in Fig. 9, serves to hold theblock, and with it the frame B, at the required adjust ment.

By changing the pin or key g from one hole to another, the block can beadjusted and the frame held at any required height, or by removing the.key and inserting it above the beam the block G will hang pendent,giving the greatest depression to the frame and cutting apparatus. Theform of the key 9 prevents its accidental displacement, as it has to beturned into proper relation to the key-seat before it can be withdrawn.

The block G is provided upon one side with .a socket for the receptionof vone end of a lever, G by means of which the block, carrying, as itdoes, the weight of the frame B and its attachments, can be readilyadjusted.

This lever G performs also another function, hereinafter described.

The forward end of beam or lever G has upon it a catch-plate, G madeadjustable by being slotted, and fastened to the forward end of the beamby a through-bolt or set-screw, g

- and by means of which adjustment this rack .or catch-plate is adaptedto lock the liftinglever G whether adjusted to the machine as a reaperor as a mower.

The same throughbolt 9 which secures the catch-plate to the beam Gr alsoserves to pivot a grooved quadrant or sheave, 9 through which the leverG is attached to the forward end of said beam,

.anda chain extending from said sheave down oted to it the upper end ofalink, g, the lower end ofwhich is pivoted to the tongue or tongueframeAin such manner that as the lever is vibrated forward on the link 9 as afulcrum it will depress the forward end of beam G, and

thus raise the rear end, and with it the frame B alilid the cuttingapparatus connected therewit i In mowing, the movement of this lever Gis reversed, the catch-plate G. being moved or set forward on the beamGI The notches on the rear portion of said plate are brought into properposition to engage with the thumblatch for holding the lever, and, thelink g being detached, thelever is thrown back into convenient position.to be operated by the driver in the seat arranged for the mower, asexplained, and acts through the chain for drawing down the beam G whenthe lever is drawn backward.

The lifting-segment g is provided with an arm, 9 and when the machine isused for reaping a link, 9 connects this arm with a stud or pin, i, onthe outer or stubble side of the rake cam or stand, and acts through therake-stand for rocking the cutting apparatus on the pivot f, in lieu ofthe arrangement described for rocking said bar in mowing. The rod orlink g serves the additional purpose of fastening or bracing theplatform in the folded position shown in Fig. 2, the hooked end of saidrod engaging with an eye or staple on the dividerboard, the other end ofsaid rod being connected with a pin on the drivers foot-board used inreaping, as shown.

'The beamGr' is connected, through the adjustable block G and hook G bymeans of a hookedlink, h, directly to the pivot f or other suitablepoint of attachment on frame B, for upholding and adjusting said framein reaping 5 butin mowing this hooked link is replaced by a chain orcord, h which connects the beam G with an arm, h, on the rock-shaft kthrough which the bell-crank gag-lever 71. is operated forgagging orlooking the joint f between the shoe and hingepiece E, said chain actingto raise the frame until it is stopped by the weighted dog 0, when thecontinued up- -ward movement of the beam G acts through the gag-lever hto raise the outer end of the cutting apparatus, either for passing overan obstruction or for firstraising the bar and then folding it at theside of the machine for transportation, as shown in Fig. 11. When thusfolded the bar or lever G heretofore referred to for adjusting the blockG when'not in use forthat purpose, is carried in a socket, 6 on a theside of the tongue, in position for its hooked upper end to engage withan eye, 1, on one of the rods of the track-clearer, and serves to holdthe bar folded at the side of the machine, as shown.

In this operation of folding the mower-bar, the lever D is thrownforward, and acts on the dog o,'as has been explained, permitting theframe B to be raised to the required height above the ground forconvenient transportation. i

In mowing, the inner shoe isprovided with an adjustable sole or runner,K, (see Fig. 12,) having a hook or loop on its forward end or point,which engages with an eye in the point of the shoe, as shown. The rearend of this runner has a grooved standard, 70, (see Fig. 16,) formedupon it, rising in close proximity with the heel of the shoe F, and isadjustably connected therewith by means of a set-screw or bolt passingthrough a perforation in said standard into any one of a series of holesin a standard, 70, matching into the groove in the forward face ofstandard 7c, as shown.

The standard is formed on an arm of the gag-block 70, made separate fromthe shoe, and bolted in place thereon when the runner K is applied, andthe machine is used as a mower, in position to be acted upon by thegag-lever, as shown.

The outer end of the platform is supported by a caster-wheel, L, theshaft of which has a grooved standard, L, applied to and sliding upon atoothed rack-standard, l, hinged by a swinging plate or arm to a bracketon the divider or fender board, arranged about in line a with thefinger-bar. r 1

The standard L is held engaged with the rack-standard by means of aspring thumblatch, adapting the wheel to be'readily adjusted, andtheteeth on the rack-standard are arranged at a distance apart conformingto the adjustment effected at the main-frame end by the perforations inblock G, so that when the hinged to the arms of has been explained; andbolts m, passing -block is not held locked up by the key the standard Lwill be engaged with the upper tooth of the rack-standard, and when theblock G is rocked forward, and the pin or key 9 placed under the beamGin the first hole, the

outerv end of the platform is to be raised until the thumb-latch engageswith the second or next lower tooth of the rackstandard, and so on, forgiving a uniform adjustment to both ends of the cutting apparatus. Underthis arrangement the vplatform can be vibrated for raising or depressingthe points of the cutters, as has been explained, without materiallyinterfering with the parallel relation of the fingerbar to the ground.

The rake-standard M is bifurcated, or made in the form of an arched yokeat its lower end,

- striding the sickle and its connecting-rod, and

the arms m m of this yoke are provided at their lower ends with notchesin the form of an inverted V or U, matching the lugs or cars on theshoe, and through which the shoe is the hinge-piece E, as

shoe in the position it occupies when in use.

When the platform is to be folded for transportation, the rakestandardis detached by loosing the bolts m and releasing the'eyes from thegrooved or headed ends of the shoepivots, and is placed over lugs orcars a, formed on the crank-shaft sleeve B, shape and distance apart tothe ears on the shoe, and is there fastened in a similar manner by theeyebolts engaging with studs or pins n, or with a rod or bolt passingthrough the lugs n and the eyes to bolts m, as preferred.

When the seat is moved forward in reaping, as shown and described, adrivers footboard, correspondingly advanced, is necessary, and this isprovided for on a transverse bar, 0,

' removably connected with the pole of the machine, and which isprovided also with the rockin g shoe piece or treadle 0, by means ofwhich i the driver controls the operation of the rake through the cord 0connecting said treadle with either the lever for tripping or forsetting the rake, cam, switch, or gate, as the case may be.

The inner end of the transverse bar 0 projects beyond the plane of theinner drivingwheel of the machine, and has secured to it a socket-piece,P, (see Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) the vertical socket in which is madetapering in form, conforming in shape substantially to -the form. of thepoint P of the divider, which rests therein when the shown in Fig. 1. p

The socket-piece is provided at the upper end of the socket with apivoted button, 10,

platform is folded, as

conforming in which, when the divider-point is in place .in

the socket, is turned over a shoulder, 19, on

1 g is applied thereto, as described, for bracing it from the foot-boardO, and preveutmg the racking and strain to which it would otherwise besubjected.

For the purpose of facilitating the transfer of the raking apparatusfrom the shoe to the crank-sleeve or vibrating frame in folding themachine for transportation, and vice versa,

the rake-cam and the rollers on the rake-arms hold said arms down uponthe cam only when they assume a vertical, or nearly vertical, po-

sition, and between said position, in which they move by the main frameor inner drivewheel in their forward or return movement, and the pointat which the arms pass over the Y cutters after having delivered thegrain thereto and deposited it on the platform, a distance about equalto, or less than, a quarterof a circle. The arrangement is such thatwhen one arm has passed beyond the retaining-ledge Q the succeeding armwill still be in a vertical position, or nearly so, preparatory tobeginning its operative movement, and the other arms, being free fromthecam, or resting thereon only by their own gravity, can be readily foldedup by the side of the vertical arm into the compact position shown inFig. 2, where they can be tied together by means of the trip-cord 0, orits equivalent, this arrangement greatly facilitating the handling ortransfer of the rake.

It is the revolving head and sprocket-wheel, in sockets in the upperface of which-the radial rake -.arms are pivoted. An inverted View ofthis wheel, with one of the pins r' applied for automatically actuatingthe switch or gate in the cam-track, is shown 1n Flg. 6.

The manner of combining these parts has been described in a formerpatent.

A swiveling arm or socket-piece, R is mounted in suitablebearing-brackets at the outer ends of rake-arms R, in a manner describedin a former patent referred to, and the outer end of this (see Fig. 8)is provided with longitudinal ribs or a corrugated face, 8,

the ribs or teeth made, by preference, to radiate from the bolt whichsecures the inner end of the rake-head R to the arm or socketpiece R asa center. 8 is a nut, having a corrugated face matching the teeth 8, abolt passing through a transverse slot, 8 in the arm B and through therake-head, and engaging with the nut s for holding said head to thesocket-piece or arm R When the nut s is backed off, the head can bevibrated on its inner pivotal bolt referred -to, the bolt 8 movinglaterally in the slot, and permitting the head to be adjusted to aproper working relation to the platform, when the bolt is tightened, andthe head is firmly held in the required position. 4

By this arrangement the heads can beset to cause the teeth to descendinto and pick up lodged grain; and where this is done, to make the teethrise over the cutters, and thereby prevent their being caught therein,the head is extended beyond the teeth at its outer end, so as tooverhang the divider-point, and the latter is provided with a guard orguide-rod, T, extending backward over the outer end of the platform, andrising toward its rear end, said divider-point and rod serving to liftthe outer overhanging end of the rake-head as the latter moves back overthe cutters sufficiently high to carry the rake-teeth clear of saidoutters. A second rod, T, is attached to the divider-point, incliningoutward from rod T, serving to bear outward the uncut grain, andmaterially assisting, in connection with the rod T and the overhangingend of the rakehead, in effecting a separation of the cut from the uncutgrain.

In some conditions of the grain it is necessary to cause thedischarging-rakes to sweep farther back over the platform than isordinarily required. To provide for this necessity, the rear end a (seeFig. 7) of the cam-ledge, under which the rake-roller travels when thearm to which it is applied acts as a rake-arm, is made adjustable bymeans of a slot, a, and a set-screw through which it is secured to thecam-ring, and can be moved backward or forward, as required, forincreasing or diminishing the throw of the rake. At the junction of thepart a with the stationary part of the rakecam ledge said part a isprovided with a tongue, c, which moves in and out in a socket,

0, in the stationary part of the cam-ledge, thus obviating any break inthe retainingledge, and preventing the rake-roller from escapingtherefrom when the part a is adjusted as described.

Parts of the machine not particularly described herein may beconstructed as shown in the drawings, as described in my former patentsreferred to, or in any usual or preferred manner.

The operation of the several parts described will be readily understoodby those skilled in the manufacture of such machines without furtherdescription.

Having now described my improvements, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- i 1. The one-piece .cover to thegear-case, formed as a shell, sunken in front to form a foot-board,domed toward the center to bridge the gearing, and having a pocket atthe rear to form a tool-box, and being suitably flanged to shut upon thegear-case, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The one-piece metal seat-frame and toolbox, formed with the elevatedshell-socket for the adjustable seat-spring holder, in combination withthe flanged connecting-ring for holding said seat-holder in place whilepermitting its adjustment, as described.

3. The combination, with the beam G, of the adjustable catch-plate Gadapted to hold the lifting-lever locked in a forward position forreaping and in a backward position for mowmg.

4. The lifting-lever G in combination with the adjustable catch-plate Gsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

'5. The adjustable block G on the rear end of beam G, for setting andholding the inner end of the cutting apparatus at differentheiights inreaping, and with which the chain for actuating the gag-crank isconnected in mowing.

6. The combination, with the platform, of adjusting-block G on thevibrating beam G, for adjusting and holding the inner end of the cuttingapparatus at different heights, and the adjustable'grain-wheel at theouter end of the platform, adapted to effect a corresponding adjustmentof said outer end, as described.

7. The gag-dog c, for limiting the upward throw of the adjustablecutter-frame, in combination with the tilting lever D, for releasingsaid dog, as described.

8. The hinge and pivot piece E, for connecting the finger-bar with themain frame, made in one piece, of the form and substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination, with the inner shoe, of the adjustable sole orrunner K, provided with the grooved standard, and united to the shoe bythe gag-block, substantially as described.

10. The removable transverse bar 0, applied to the tongue, and providedwith the conical or tapering socket-piece P, forholding thedivider-point when the platform is folded.

11. The socket-piece 1?,- provided with the locking-button, incombination with the shoulder on the divider-point, for holding thedivider securely when the platform is folded.

12. The transferable rake-stand, in combination with bearing lugs orsupports on the crank-frame, for holding said stand when not in use, andwhen the platform is folded for transportation, as described.

OYRENUS WHEELER, JR.

Witnesses:

D. M. KIRBY, O. H. BU'RDICK, J r.

